Our
aunt being apprised of this circumstance, very gravely
advised her brother to provide a sumpter horse with store of
hams, tongues, bread, biscuit, and other articles for our
subsistence, in the course of our peregrination, and Mr Bramble
as gravely replied, that he would take the hint into
consideration: but, finding no such provision was made, she now
revived the proposal, observing that there was a tolerable market
at Berwick, where we might be supplied; and that my man's horse
would serve as a beast of burthen -- The 'squire, shrugging his
shoulders, eyed her askance with a look of ineffable contempt:
and, after some pause, 'Sister (said he), I can hardly persuade
myself you are serious.' She was so little acquainted with the
geography of the island, that she imagined we could not go to
Scotland but by sea; and, after we had passed through the town of
Berwick, when he told her we were upon Scottish ground, she could
hardly believe the assertion -- If the truth must be told, the
South Britons in general are woefully ignorant in this
particular. What, between want of curiosity, and traditional
sarcasms, the effect of ancient animosity, the people at the
other end of the island know as little of Scotland as of Japan.
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